Improving disability benefit take-up: Experimental evidence from a public information campaign in Vietnam

Despite substantial disability-related costs, participation in public disability benefit programs remains incomplete in many countries. This is particularly the case in low- and middle-income countries where disability programs are relatively new and awareness of eligibility rules may be limited. This paper evaluates whether reducing information frictions can increase enrolment in Vietnam’s national disability benefits program. In a randomised controlled trial across 70 rural communes, standardised information about disability benefits was embedded within routine government loudspeaker broadcasts over a five-week period. Using commune-level administrative data observed approximately two years after the intervention, the results show that program enrolment was 9 percent higher in treated communes. The effects are larger among individuals classified with severe disabilities, for whom enrolment increased by 12 percent. Smaller effects are observed among persons with the most severe disabilities, who were likely already well covered by the program. Larger effects are also observed among children who are eligible for higher monthly disability pension amounts. These findings demonstrate that a low-cost and scalable information campaign delivered through existing government communication infrastructure can substantially increase participation in disability benefit programs.